Author Archives: hugh

About hugh

I live off-grid in NW Scotland and have spent my life playing with wind turbines. I also love small hydros. Hands on renewable energy is my thing and I like to learn and to share my experiences.

Local manufacture of turbines in Mali

Posted on 04/02/2010 by hugh

Piet Willem Chevalier has successfully launched a project in Mali by training a group to build wind turbines. This group will start manufacturing these wind turbines as a profession, that will open doors to supply electricity to the rural poor, … Continue reading →

Posted in developing world, People | 4 Comments

When do you consider your battery to be flat?

Posted on 28/01/2010 by hugh

I got 42 answers to my (rather cryptic) question: 10/20/40 volts 7 (16%) 11/22/44 volts 4 (9%) 11.5/23/46 volts 10 (23%) 11.75/23.5/47 volts 12 (28%) If it drops below nominal voltage I freak out 9 (21%) Battery makers tend to … Continue reading →

Posted in my own projects | Leave a comment

Vacancy for a teacher at Soraig’s (wind powered) school

Posted on 28/01/2010 by hugh

Highland council are advertising for a new head teacher for our school.

Posted in Notices | Leave a comment

Low cost pipe couplers for hydro

Posted on 26/01/2010 by hugh

Paul Camilli is an expert at using what he has got (it’s called ‘crofting’ in the west highlands) and he has got a lot of old fishfarm pipe and a rather nice little stream for hydro power. Here he is … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People | 2 Comments

Workshop in Chemille by Etienne Mousseau

Posted on 21/01/2010 by hugh

Apprendre à fabriquer une éolienneDu Lundi 22 au samedi 27 février 2010chez Damien Cailleau et Sébastien Marti, maraîchers bio « les Petites Noues »Sur la commune de Chemillé (49)[email protected]

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

images from France

Posted on 19/01/2010 by hugh

OPERATION BURLESQUEA La conquête de nouvelles formes d’activismeNe tombez pas dans le trou ! “Entre la parole et les actes, il y a un trouPlus de vingt ans après la lutte victorieuse contre la centrale nucléaire de Plogoff.Pourquoi aucune dynamique … Continue reading →

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The Scottish Government consultation on ‘Permitted Development’ status for small wind turbines

Posted on 17/01/2010 by hugh

The Scottish Government have published a consultation document Permitted development rights are extended to certain types of development through the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 (GPDO). They will now be examining the option for new … Continue reading →

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magnet4energy are selling my free plans

Posted on 17/01/2010 by hugh

Here is another scam. Magnet4energy are selling plans for ‘free energy’. What you get is an 80 page pdf document. More than half of this consists of my own description of how to build and alternator. You can also download … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Birth of the British Small Wind Association

Posted on 14/01/2010 by hugh

Stephen Tasker of Hymoto has outdone himself as the ‘loose canon’ of the UK small wind industry by setting up a new Association in competition with BWEA. “For the record I have repeatedly tried to work with the British Wind … Continue reading →

Posted in People, UK small wind scene | Leave a comment

Microgeneration scheme (MCS) approved turbines list

Posted on 13/01/2010 by hugh

There is now a list of wind turbines that are currently approved for the microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) here. These are only ‘transitional’ approvals though. They are the lucky ones that are eligible for Grants and Feed in Tariffs. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in UK small wind scene | 2 Comments